How to Grow Ginger: A Guide to Cultivating This "Resurrection Herb"
Ginger is a perennial herbaceous plant, hailed as the “resurrection herb”, with high edible and medicinal value, and is widely cultivated in central and southern China. So, what are the methods for growing ginger? Let's find out together!
1. Choosing the site and selecting seed
Ginger is very sensitive to water. It is neither drought-tolerant nor waterlogging-tolerant, and its water requirements are very strict. When choosing a site, try to select sandy soil with strong permeability, and it should also be close to a water source so that irrigation and drainage are convenient. In addition, when selecting ginger seed, choose healthy ginger pieces with relatively plump tubers and good color. Carefully observe whether the ginger buds are vigorous and whether disease is present. Do not choose withered or diseased ginger buds for planting.
2. Sowing method
When sowing, soak the ginger pieces in a chemical solution for ten minutes, then mix them with sand, seal them with plastic film, and generally after five days they can be sown. This step disinfects the seeds and improves their survival rate. When sowing, plant at a spacing of thirty centimeters between plants and forty centimeters between rows. Try to face the sprouted side upward, arranging them row by row. After arranging them, cover with a thin layer of soil, and finally spread a layer of straw on top.
3. Fertilizer management
After planting, apply sufficient base fertilizer. Generally, an average of 3000 kg of organic rotted fertilizer is needed per mu, plus 30 kg of potassium fertilizer as a supplement. The first fertilization is when the ginger seedlings are 25 cm tall. In rural areas, manure mixed with water can be used for irrigation, or 20 kg of urea mixed with water can be sprayed. By early autumn, that is, in early September, carry out the second fertilization. This fertilization is mainly to make the tubers grow larger, so mainly compound fertilizer and potassium fertilizer are applied, with amounts of 45 kg and 30 kg respectively. The last fertilization is when the tubers have grown to about the size of three thumbs, that is, one month after the second fertilization. The types of fertilizer used this time are the same as the second time, only the amount is halved.
4. Pest and disease control
The main diseases that harm ginger growth and affect ginger yield are rot disease and leaf spot disease. Rot disease generally occurs from summer to early autumn. If diseased plants are found, they should be pulled out promptly, and the soil beside these plants should be dug out to prevent bacterial infection. Then spread a layer of lime, and fill the ground level with soil again. The control method for leaf spot disease is to spray 50% chlorothalonil 800-fold solution, once every 7-10 days. The main insect pests of ginger are ginger stem borers and ginger maggots. Generally, trichlorfon or phoxim is sprayed on the leaves for control.
5. Harvesting
The usual harvest season is November and December. When the stems and leaves of the ginger have turned yellow and begun to wither, harvesting can begin. However, it is best to harvest once every two years. Ginger is better when it is slightly older, so it is not necessary to harvest every year.
The above is the summary of ginger growing methods compiled for you. We hope it can help everyone.